The repair site at Lukas Place in Olivedale, where a 350 mm municipal water pipe burst earlier this year, remains open nearly four months later, as residents grow increasingly frustrated with Joburg Water’s lack of progress.

Resident Helena Pillay said the site has been open since July 1, with ongoing leaks still visible. “They came to drain the water on Wednesday, and on Friday they came back to check — it was still leaking,” she said. “At night, the pressure is high, so it pushes more water.”

Read more: Johannesburg Water contractor runs after damaging a pipe while filling a hole

Pillay added that the city has indicated it will take at least two to three days to confirm whether the newly installed section is secure. However, she remains concerned about the risk of future bursts where the old asbestos pipe connects to the new section.

“There’s still no talk about decommissioning the pipe. This should be the priority,” she said. “If they don’t decommission it, the joint could break again in the future.”

Also read: Major pipe bursts leave residents without water for days

The pipe, which runs directly under units at Lukas Place, has burst twice in seven years, first in December 2018 and again on July 1, 2025. Residents, who say they were unaware of its existence when buying their homes, are calling for it to be rerouted to open veld nearby to prevent further damage and safety risks.

For now, the hole remains open, Joburg Water remains silent on decommissioning, and Lukas Place residents continue to wait for assurances that their homes will be safe from another water disruption.

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